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Travel and Tourism in Dominica

Jul 2014|Pages: 19

Price: US$660

About this Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Improvements of tourist attractions

The marketing plan from 2012-2022 is to increase tourism to Dominica’s major cities and national parks, Roseau and Portsmouth. Buildings and beachfronts are being upgraded. Dominica is also moving some businesses to create more space along the beachfront to allow for more tourists. Old Market Square in Roseau is becoming a plaza. They are adding more cafés and seats for tourists to relax, and adding more public entertainment. Portsmouth is becoming the main attraction city with its new hotels and golf courses.

Adding new airlines

Two new airlines are flying into Dominica: Hummingbird Air and Windward Island Airways (Winair). Hummingbird Air’s first flight was on 19 December 2013, but at the time of writing it was not known when commercial flying would begin. Winair’s first flight to Dominica was on 15 February 2014. There is also talk of a new airplane company that will fly from Florida straight to Dominica, The first local company, Caribbean Island Transport (CIT), was created by a Dominican national to boost tourism to the island. Final meetings between the company and the Dominica government were stalled, however, when CIT decided to change the company name and motto. There is no timetable for when the new company will be announced, but engineers are researching ways to locate an international airport on the island. This will take a large area of land. It is still in discussion because Dominica is not fully capable of funding such a large project.

Marketing to well-developed nations

Dominica wants to attract more people from the US, Canada, the UK, France, and Germany. The marketing strategy of its Ministry of Tourism and tourist board involves print advertisements, partnerships with travel agents, trade shows, and sweepstakes. For advertising in the US and Canada, Dominica hired Bolin Marketing since December 2010. Dominica is looking to showcase its historic, Old World-type cities such as Roseau and Portsmouth and create a feeling of the past. Instead of destroying old buildings, it is looking to renovate them. By doing this the people believe more tourists would visit and feel safe exploring their old cities.